Schools and Sects in Jaina Literature

Author(s): Amulyachandra Sen
Publisher: Vishwa Bharati Calcutta

Page 14

SCHOOLS AND SECTS IN JAINA LITERATURE
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vchcmence and care with which they are denounced it seems probable that thic doctrines of the Ajīviyas played an important part in the life of the times.
The Ājiviyas believed that though it is proved that there are individual souls, they experience pleasure and pain, and on dying lose their state of existence, yet misery and pleasure are not caused by the souls themselves, for how could it be caused, they asked, by other agents as time, cic? Pieasure and misery, final beatitude and temporal pleasure, and pain are not caused by the souls themselves nor by others ; but the individual souls experience them; it is the fate assigned them by Destiny 21
Anotler account states that there is no such thing as exertion or labour or power or vigour or manly strength, but that all things are caused by destiny which is unalterably fixed.22 This has been called the doctrine of Cosāla Maņkhāliputta. From the story of Saddālaputta, the potter of Palāsapura, and an adherent of the Ajiviyas, we get the leading doctrine of Gosāla. The story runs thus :
Saddālaputta once brought out his potter's ware from within his workshop and placed them in the sun. Mahāvīra happened to come upon the scene and asked "Saddālaputta, how is this potter's ware made ?"
Saddālaputta: "Reverend Sir, this ware is at first clay, then it is kneaded with water, and then it is mixed well together with ashes and dung ; then it is placed on the wheel, and finally many bowls and jars of various sizes are made."
Mahāvīra : "Saddālaputta, is your ware made by dint of exertion and manly strength, or on the other hand, is it made without exertion and nianly strength-kim utthāṇenam vā kammeņam vā balenam vā virienam vā purisakkaraparakkameňam kajjanti udāhuanutthāņeņam jāva apurisakkāraparakkameňam kajjanti?"
Saddālaputta: "Reverend Sir, it is made without exertion and manly strength, and all things are unalterably fixed."
Mahāvīra: "Saddālaputta, if any one of thy men were to steal thy linbaked or baked ware or scatter it about or make holes in it or let it drop into pieces or place it outside unguarded or if he were to indulge in outrageous familiarities with thy wife Aggimittā, what punishment would thou inflict on that man?"
21 Süt.S. I.i.2.1-8. 12 Upās. 6.166.